do you have to add distilled water to a new battery?

If the cells are lower than the inner lower plastic ring, absolutely.

a new battery should have come with a bottle of acid to fill it with. water will not provide any power what so ever. if you just bought it and it did not have that bottle, head on back and talk to some one. you can add water when the battery has lost some but that is due to the fact that the acid is still in the battery.

Distilled water will work, but you can purchase electrolite at automotive stores which is what most people call battery acid.

no if new battery usualy sealed for life ok read side of battery tells you if sealed for life but def do not add water to new battery i should say distilled water .ok all the best .

If it is brand new, probably not.

as others have answered the water level should not be below the rings at the top of the cells.

they are indevidual cells untill you get to the top,its all one formula

No, unless it wasn't filled properly. I have had to fill a new battery in 40 years of buying them.

if it needs topping up yes about 5mm above the plates